TLTP
MOSCOW
Every Russian city will be within easy reach for many foreign tourists starting from January 2021, with the e-visa itself costing no more than $50.
From January 1, 2021, many visitors to Russia will be able to travel to any Russian city using a one-time electronic visa (e-visa). The associated bill passed a first reading at the State Duma on June 23. The law is set to affect the current regulations, under which visitors from 53 countries are already allowed to enter Russia via an existing e-visa – however, they can only visit a small number of regions: the Kaliningrad Region, the Far Eastern Federal District, the Leningrad Region and its main city, St. Petersburg.
According to the text of the bill, travellers will be able to apply for an electronic visa on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Processing is promised to take no more than four calendar days. The one-time entry e-visa will be valid for up to 60 days following a successful application. However, the duration of the actual stay must not exceed 16 days.
According to Deputy Foreign Minister Evgeniy Ivanov, the e-visa will cost no more than $50, with the cost waived for children under six.
An updated list of countries has not yet been approved by the Foreign Ministry, Ivanov says. However, the government will use the current list of 53 countries as a starting point. It is possible that the list will be expanded, but it is unknown at this time what other countries may be included.
Russia currently has a no-visa regime for 60 countries, Ivanov notes. Citizens from 44 countries on the Foreign Ministry’s list can enter without a visa under special conditions using all passport types.
A visa is also not required for the remaining 16 countries, with their citizens using a diplomatic or work passport.
Ivanov said that, starting in 2021, citizens from 113 countries will be able to enter Russia without the need for a paper visa.
